Aer Lingus: Labour Court recommends 17.75pc pay rise for pilots to break deadlock

The Labour Court has today issued a recommendation in a last ditch attempt to end the long-running dispute.

It is understood that the recommendation issued at lunchtime today, covers a four year period from 1 Jan 2023 to the end of December 2026.

Today’s News in 90 Seconds – July 8th 2024

The dispute has seen hundreds of flights cancelled by the airline in a bid to minimise travel disruption.

A spokesperson for Aer Lingus said last week that between the start of the industrial action on June 26 and Sunday, July 14, there will have been a total of 548 flights cancelled, hitting about 82,000 passengers.

Pilots union Ialpa was seeking pay rises worth a total of 24pc- but sources claimed it dropped its demand to around 22pc at recent face-to-face talks with the airline.

Speaking ahead of a formal hearing at the court last week, Aer Lingus executive Dónal Moriarty said the airline wanted changes to flexibility and productivity to move beyond its 12.25pc pay offer.

He said work practice changes being sought in return for a bigger pay rise for Aer Lingus pilots would have a “minimal” impact on them.

Kevin Callinan, the general secretary of Ialpa’s parent union Fórsa, has warned that the court’s current intervention is crucial.

If it fails, he said it would have “the most dire consequences” including a serious escalation of industrial action.

In a statement following the recommendation, Aer Lingus said:

“Aer Lingus will carefully review the final recommendation of the Labour Court. The company will confirm its position following completion of that review.”

More to follow…